Meeting details

The Civil Society Dialogue with the EU Trade Commissioner Ms Cecilia Malmström on the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA) is part of an ongoing process of Civil Society Dialogues (CSD) on EU trade and investment policy.

On 29 February 2016, the European Commission and Canada announced the end of the legal review of the English version of this text. This legally reviewed text was made public the same day on the website of DG Trade. Since then, the text has been translated into the other official languages of the EU and Canada before being adopted by the Commission on 5 July and subsequently submitted to the Council for formal signature. Once the Council has given its approval, the agreement needs the consent of the European Parliament before it will be provisionally applied. Entry into force is only foreseen after the adoption by all national parliaments.

CETA offers a unique opportunity to define a positive, forward-looking relationship with a like-minded partner like Canada, with whom the EU shares a history based on common values and interests, and offers opportunities for growth and jobs for our economy. CETA is also by far the EU's most progressive free trade agreement.

Stakeholders were invited to share their concerns and exchange views with Commissioner Malmström on CETA.

The meeting was moderated by Mr Lutz Guellner, Head of the Information, Communication and Civil Society Unit in the Directorate-General for Trade.